The restoration of the Newport Substation was initiated and managed by a committed group of  local residents from Hobsons Bay from 1995 -2013. The $5 million dollar redevelopment created The Hobsons Bay Community Arts Centre Inc. The project was supported by hundreds of volunteers, construction industry employment creation projects, business  sponsors, private donations and the Local, State and Federal Governments. Hobsons Bay City Council contributed 10% of the construction budget.

The vision was to create a vibrant arts and cultural venue for all the community to enjoy. It was to be filled with community focussed programs, events and activities that engage all ages and backgrounds. It was to become a place for the whole community to participate in the creation, tuition, display and performance of all facets of the visual and performing arts.

It was meant to provide community capacity building initiatives through financially self sustaining social enterprise activities; such as employment and training opportunities in tourism, building maintenance, gardening and landscaping, venue management and administration, hospitality training and artistic performance and cultural programs.

The current Committee and management has demonstrated an unwillingness to engage with the membership that created the venue and in fact have demonstrated that they have a blatant disregard for the rights of members legislated in the Associations Incorporations Reform Act 2012. The Substation had an Association membership of many hundreds of local people at the end of the redevelopment project in 2012, it now has a membership of just five people, the self appointed and self elected Committee of Management.

From 2013 the Committee of the Hobsons Bay Community Arts Centre Inc. has excluded the membership and breached the Act by;

• Not sending membership renewal notices to all members of the Association.
• Not providing notification of Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings.
• Not consulting with the membership regarding the future direction and community involvement at The Substation.
• Changing the name of the Association and adopting a new set of rules without the consent of the membership.

Hobsons Bay City Council provides substantial funding to The Substation ($1.05 million over three years), the residents and ratepayers of Hobsons Bay rightly expect that organisations that receive funding operate in an honest, transparent, accountable and inclusive manner.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BACK IN THE SUBSTATION REGISTER NOW – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER